If we have ever read (or watched the movie) "A Christmas Carol" by  Charles Dickens, then we are familiar with Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy and self-(only)-focused older man who lived most of his life serving (only) himself and accommodating (only) his   needs.   But one evening, as Ebenezer slept, he was visited by three ghosts, who chronicled his life and his heart.   When he wakes, Ebenezer realizes that he still has time to change his attitude, and to change his treatment of others, and to change  his heart.   And Ebenezer  wants  to. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we (still) have time to do the same: Do we WANT to ? We may not have been visited by three  (past, present, and future) spirits last night, but the Lord God Almighty visits us through His Holy Bible today, and God gets specific about a few topics that must be important to Him, or He would not mention them.   And the Lord tells and teaches us His stance...

God loves us with the heart of a good and holy father who knows what is best for us, and who wants what is best for us. Sometimes the Lord comforts us when we are tired and worn out.  The Bible can speak words of comfort and affirmation and hope for us:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  ~Matthew 11:28 Our God is our Heavenly Father, and just as our earthly father may have enforced our completion of chores, strengthened our work-ethic, or disciplined us in academics (studying)... Our Heavenly Father loves us with the heart of a good and Holy Father who knows what is best for us, and who seeks   to instill  what's best for us.  And so sometimes the Lord does not comfort us in our times-of-tired, or when we are weary.  Our Heavenly Father sometimes equips us to press on, or chides us to carry on , persevere, and even to "buck up".   God also has been known to use His Word (the Bible) to give us God...

Who is our "opp" today?  And what should we do  about them? Do we have an "opp"?  ... Of course we do--we all do. What's an "opp", we ask?   To find the answer, we most likely will need to ask a young person, because "opp" is one of their (modern) terms. In slang, "opp" (often pluralized as "opps" ) is short for "opposition" or "opponent", meaning an enemy, rival, or adversary. (www.Quora.com) We might not know the word ("opp"), but we know the type of person that is our "opp", and the term that the Bible would use for "opp" is enemy .   Who is under our skin  today?  (Our enemy /"opp") Who is on our nerves  today?    (Our enemy /"opp" ) Who is bullying us today?    (Our enemy /"opp" ) Who has left us out today?    (Our enemy /"opp" ) Who is ganging up against us today?    (Our enemy /"opp" ) Who is slandering/injurying/fa...

The basics to any (non-creamy) salad dressing recipe are oil and vinegar.  In addition, there can be spices and herbs of any kind, as well as salt and pepper added, but the oil and vinegar are the base that any great vinaigrette is made from. The unique thing about these two foundational ingredients is that they do not mix .  You can pour vinegar into a container and then oil, and they will sit, separated.  By nature, oil and vinegar do not seem to mix or partner well.  But with a vigorous stir, or jostling, or shake:  these two elements will  combine and mix to produce a united solution (dressing) that can be a delicious elixir for salads, vegetables or meats. But you wouldn't think so from viewing their (separated) states initially. Oil and vinegar don't initially appear as if they will mix well...but they do! I found oil and vinegar in Psalm 149 today.   God speaks of our (beautiful) call to praise  Him with singing, dancing, instruments ...